County Council consults on non-household waste disposal

North Yorkshire County Council is consulting on changes to the way it deals with non-household waste such as soil and rubble, currently accepted at its recycling centres.

The authority has started a consultation this week on savings to be made by changes to the way it currently accepts discretionary non-household wastes like soil and rubble at its network of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).

The proposed changes are part of a package of measures aimed at ensuring that the county council remains on track to achieve millions of pounds in savings as a result of Government funding cuts

The authority is committed to saving £92m in the four years ending on 31 March, 2015 and has warned that following further announcements by the Government over future funding, it will need to find an additional estimated £78m between 2015 and 2019.

North Yorkshire’s HWRC service currently costs £5.9 million; the county council needs to save £240,000 in 2014/15, but may need to save more in future.

The authority would therefore like to hear people’s opinion on whether the HWRCs should no longer accept these wastes, or if our contractors should make a charge to customers to cover their costs. This would mean the county council would not have to fund the management and disposal of discretionary waste and could make the required £240,000 per year savings.

County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Waste Disposal said:

We are asking people for their views on a number of proposals to achieve the required level of savings now, and in the future.

We cannot continue to take these wastes free of charge but want to change the way we deal with soil and rubble and other non-household wastes in a manner that is fair and causes the least amount of inconvenience to customers using the sites.

For further details of the proposal and to let the Council know what you think: